Representative Steven S. Howitt supports joint rules package promoting increased public access to the legislative process

Final package incorporates reforms long pushed for by the GOP Caucus

Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) recently supported the adoption of a joint rules package for the House and Senate that incorporates several reforms the House Republican Caucus has long championed to improve transparency and make it easier for the public to participate in the legislative process.

Senate Bill 2545 was adopted in both branches on June 26. The legislation outlines the procedures that will govern the operations of the joint committees for the remainder of the 2025-2026 legislative session.

Representative Howitt acknowledged the new rules package as a clear improvement over the current rules. In particular, he cited changes that will give the public better access to, and understanding of, the legislative process through timely hearing notifications and the posting of information online. Representative Howitt said the real test of how effective the new rules package will be is dependent on the ability of leadership in both branches to work together and follow through on making these changes permanent.

Under the new joint rules, committees will be required to provide a minimum of 10 days’ hearing notice to the public, which is one week longer than the current posting requirement of 72 hours. Any changes made to the posted hearing agendas must be made with the agreement of both committee chairs and posted at least 72 hours prior to the hearing.

Representative Howitt said these changes will be particularly helpful to individuals who want to testify before a committee because it will give them sufficient advance notice in case they need to adjust their schedules. In addition, the public will continue to be allowed to participate in hearings remotely and to submit testimony electronically, with hearings livestreamed on the General Court website for those not in attendance.

Representative Howitt also noted that the new joint rules will allow members of the public to more easily access information on legislation as it makes its way through the process and will give them a better understanding of how their legislators are voting. For example, committee reports and votes will now be published online on the General Court website, along with committee members’ attendance records beginning October 1. Committee chairs will be responsible for providing summaries of bills pending before their committee in easily understandable language for posting online, and committees will also be required to make copies of written testimony publicly available, with certain exceptions to protect against the release of sensitive personal information.

Under the new rules, a revised timeline has been established for the reporting of bills from committees to help expedite the process. Moving forward, the House will continue to follow House Rule 27, adopted in February, requiring House bills to be reported within 60 days of being heard, although an additional 30 days can be allotted at the discretion of the House chair. Senate bills must be reported by the first Wednesday in December.

Representative Howitt said the new rules allow the legislature to reconvene in formal session after July 31 of the second year of session, a time period normally reserved for informal sessions in which roll calls cannot take place, but this option will be limited to the consideration of conference committee reports, appropriations bills, and any vetoes or amendments recommended by the governor. The joint rules also require an outside independent audit of the legislature’s joint financial accounts to be conducted by a certified public accountant each fiscal year.

According to Representative Howitt, the House and Senate will now be required to review the joint rules at the end of the second year of each session to help determine which rules worked and which ones may need to be revisited.